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Anaphylaxis Canada is proud to announce that Marilyn Allen, a consultant to Anaphylaxis Canada and long-time activist in the food allergy community, was presented with the Food Safety Leadership Award from the Guelph Food Technology Centre (GFTC) yesterday. The inaugural award recognizes Marilyn’s drive for food safety excellence.

Since losing her 15 year-old daughter, Robyn, in 1990 who suffered an anaphylactic reaction, Marilyn has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about food allergy and improve safety standards. A founder of one of two organizations which eventually merged to form Anaphylaxis Canada in 2001, Marilyn worked for more than a decade to get new federal food labelling laws passed.

An accredited trainer with a number of national industry associations, Marilyn has participated in training hundreds of employees through the GFTC course on allergen management from 2001 to 2008. The course outlines symptoms and causes of anaphylaxis, its prevalence, the patient’s perspective and the need for improved allergen management in the food manufacturing and foodservice industries. She has advised government, working as a consultant with Health Canada’s Food Directorate (2008-10), the food industry, schools, and families across the country.

“Marilyn is an especially deserving recipient of this award,” said Laurie Harada, Executive Director of Anaphylaxis Canada and the mother of a son with multiple food allergies. Marilyn is a passionate and impactful presenter, and her sessions have led to changes in the way companies and restaurants operate to accommodate the needs of allergic consumers.”

Most recently, she co-authored Allergen Training Basics for the Foodservice and Food Retail Industry, a comprehensive training course for employees, developed in partnership with TrainCan Inc. She has also worked in collaboration with the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association on the development of Food Allergies: A Guide for Restaurants, which helps educate employees on the importance of allergen management.

Marilyn has also facilitated anaphylaxis training sessions for school boards, daycare facilities, health care professionals and the Toronto Public Health School Nursing Division.

About Anaphylaxis Canada
Anaphylaxis Canada is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to helping those at risk for anaphylaxis and those who care for them. The organization is committed to creating a safer world for people with life-threatening allergies through education, advocacy, and research.